Well falls it thee that I am not in plight,1 34 He little answered, but in manly heart His mighty indignation did forbear; Which was not yet so secret, but some part With darkness dread, and threatens all the world to 35 "Ah! gentle knight," then false Duessa said, Ne will enforced be with maisterdome or might." 36 So false Duessa: but vile Atè thus: "Both foolish knights, I can but laugh at both, 1 Well falls it thee, etc., i.e. it is well for you that I am not in condition. 2 Ne, nor. 3 List, likes to, chooses to. That strive and storm with stir outrageous, Whilst both you here with many a cursèd oath 37 "Vile hag," said Scudamour, "why dost thou lie, And falsely seekst a virtuous wight to shame?" "Fond knight," said she, "the thing that with this eye I saw, why should I doubt to tell the same?” Atè then told how she had seen a strange knight making love to Amoret. She did not know his name, but in his shield he bore the heads of many broken spears. And," the hag went on, "I saw him kiss; I saw him her embrace." 38. Which when as Scudamour did hear, his heart 1 Loth, loathe. 2 To win a willow bough, etc. The willow was the sign of the forsaken lover; the bay was worn by victors. Britomart, of course, appears to be Amoret's lover and her true knight. 3 Fond, foolish. 4 Doubt, fear. 5 Maulgre whoso it hears, i.e. no matter who hears it. In middest of, etc., i.e. in the midst of his pain. 39 So stood Sir Scudamour when this he heard, His change of cheer that anguish did bewray,7 40 "Lo! recreant," said he, "the fruitless end Of thy vain boast, and spoil of love misgotten, Whereby the name of knighthood thou dost shend,9 And all true lovers with dishonour blotten 10: · All things not rooted well will soon be rotten." "Fie, fie, false knight," then false Duessa cried, "Unworthy life, that love with guile hast gotten; Be thou, wherever thou do go 11 or ride, Loathed of ladies all, and of all knights defied!" 41 But Scudamour, for passing 12 great despite, 42 But, being past, he thus began amain 1; "False traitor squire,2 false squire of falsest knight, Why doth mine hand from thine avenge3 abstain, Whose lord hath done my love this foul despite ! Why do I not it wreak on thee now in my might! Discourteous, disloyal Britomart, Untrue to God, and unto man unjust! What vengeance due can equal thy desart,5 Let ugly shame and endless infamy Colour thy name with foul reproaches' rust: 43 The agèd dame, him seeing so enraged, 7 Was dead with fear; nathless as need required His flaming fury sought to have assuaged And thrice he drew it back: so did at last forbear. 1 Amain, violently. 2 False traitor squire, i.e. Glaucè. 3 From thine avenge, i.e. from taking vengeance upon thee. 4 Wreak, avenge. 5 Desart, desert. 6 Aby, pay for. 7 Nathless, nevertheless. 8 Sufferance, patience. 9 Expired, discovered. X. Satyrane institutes a tournament. Artegall appears on the scene. Britomart is declared victor in the jousts. Sir Satyrane, the knight whom Britomart met at the castle of Malbecco in company with Paridell, had by some means come into possesion of the magic girdle belonging to fair Florimell, a lady noted for her beauty. The knight appointed a time and place for a tournament, declaring that the victor should be rewarded by the hand of the fairest lady present, and that she, as the queen of beauty, should receive the magic girdle. Among others, Paridell and Blandamour with their companions among whom was the cowardly Braggadochio - decided to enter the lists. at length upon th' appointed day Unto the place of tournament they came; 2 There this fair crew arriving did divide The knights in couples marched with ladies linked 1 Attone, together. |